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    From dust to flow: UP villagers bring 81km-long dried-up river back to life

    Synopsis

    In Uttar Pradesh's Bundelkhand region, the Noon river, once dry due to encroachments and poor rainfall, is being revived through community efforts. Thousands of villagers volunteered to restore the river's drainage basin, creating a funnel for water flow. Expected to fully flow soon, the revival will benefit over 15,350 farmers, restoring irrigation to farmland and providing water for animals.

    A river runs through UP’s parched Jalaun, againTOI.in
    File photo
    Farmers in Jalaun, located in UP’s drought-hit Bundelkhand region, are set to get much-needed relief this season as a once-dry 81km-long local river has been nearly revived, reported TOI.

    The Noon river, which had completely dried up due to encroachments and poor rainfall, is now flowing again thanks to a community-driven restoration effort.

    Starting in 2021, thousands of local villagers volunteered their time and labor to restore the river’s drainage basin along a 14km stretch, creating a funnel that allows water to flow once more. Officials expect the river to be fully flowing within two weeks, benefiting over 15,350 farmers in the area.

    According to the report, this remarkable revival echoes the spirit praised by PM Modi in his Mann Ki Baat radio program four years ago, where he highlighted the power of collective action. The Noon river, which runs through 47 villages before joining the Yamuna, was once a vital irrigation source for 2,780 hectares of farmland and a water spot for animals in the arid region.

    Jalaun’s District Magistrate Rajesh Kumar Pandey credited local politicians, social workers, and professionals for their vital role in removing obstacles and supporting the project.

    “Everyone understood the damage caused by unchecked development and came together to clear the hurdles,” he told TOI, underlining the community’s commitment to restoring their lifeline.


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